Albania celebrated World and European Statistics Day with a high-level event in Tirana. Officials from Albania and the European Union reaffirmed the crucial role of accurate and independent data in the country’s EU journey.

Ritva Heikkinen, head of cooperation at the EU Delegation, said reliable statistics shape better policies and ensure accountability. “They are not just numbers,” she said. “They prove how much progress Albania makes in its EU accession.”

She highlighted Chapter 18, dedicated to statistics, as key to speeding up other negotiation chapters. She urged stronger professionalism, independence, and quality in data collection and analysis.

Elsa Dhuli, director of INSTAT, emphasized that quality data guide smart decision-making. “Trust in official statistics is essential for Albania’s EU integration,” she said. She called for full implementation of the European Statistics Code of Practice.

Swiss ambassador Ruth Huber stressed the need to involve local actors in building reliable data. “When local communities help create trustworthy data, governance becomes more transparent,” she said. “We must make statistics clear, reliable, and useful for citizens, civil society, business, and academia.”

Chapter 18 pushes Albania to modernize its statistical systems and align with EU standards at both national and local levels.

The government plans to meet all EU requirements by 2027, the target year for completing accession talks.

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